Laterally movable article support assembly



Dec. 6, 1966 E. K. HANSEN 3,289,873

LATERALLY MOVABLE ARTICLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Filed May 25, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4/ u? 4 46 Ill Hg M 43 ll ,1 4 2a //v VEN 7'0/2 EL MFR K l/A/YJE/Y @Av e w A Tram/EX Dec. 6, 1966 E. K. HANSEN LATERALLY MOVABLE ARTICLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1964 /N vs/vraxz 1 ME/P K HAMSEN 6) {2% A4 A flTTOP/VEX W 0 Wm 11 T l I Dec. 6, 1966 E- K. HANSEN 3,289,873

LATERALLY MOVABLE ARTICLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Filed May 25, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I lNl/E/W'OR 4 MER K. HANSE/Y /4 B @M A. 4

J7 147 7 OQ/YEX United States Patent s,2s9,s73 LATERALLY MOVABLE ARTICLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Elmer K. Hansen, 801 S. Martha, Sioux City, Iowa Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,880 1 Claim. (Cl. 214-730) This invention relates to a material handling vehicle and more particularly to an article lift truck equipped with an elevatable article support assembly which is laterally shiftable relative to the truck.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved article support assembly for an article lift truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article lift truck with an elevatable article support assembly which is operable to move an article in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of elevational move ment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article lift truck having an upright mast with a laterally shiftable article support assembly mounted adjacent the mast so as to have a minimum loss of load center.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laterally shiftable article assembly which is constructed from a minimum number of parts and is readily assembled and dismantled for repair and service.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a durable article support assembly which is eflicient and reliable in use and economical in cost.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG 1 is a perspective view of an article lift truck equipped with the article support assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the article support assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the article support assembly;

PEG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a reduced sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the truck of FIG. 1 with the article support assembly in an adjusted lateral position; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the article support assembly in the opposite adjusted lateral position.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown'in FIG. 1 a fork lift vehicle 11 equipped with the article support assembly 11 of this invention. The vehicle 10 is a conventional fork lift truck having a frame 12 supported on a floor or ground surface 13 by a pair of front drive wheels 14 and 16 and a steering caster wheel 17. Positioned above and extended over the frame 12 is a control panel 18 on which is rotatably mounted a tiller 19 drivably connected to the caster wheel 17 by a shaft 21. Angular movement of the tiller 19 rotates the caster wheel 17 about a vertical axis enabling the truck to turn in a relatively small radius.

An engine compartment 20 for housing an internal combustion engine 23 is enclosed by foldable side panels 22. The engine 23 is drivably connected to a pump 24 which is operable to discharge hydraulic fluid under pressure to separate fluid motors (not shown) for driving the truck and separate fluid motors for operating the article support assembly 11. The flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump 24 is regulated by a valve assembly 26 having operator actuated levers 27 projected through the control panel 18.

Extended in an upward direction from the drive wheels 14 and 16 is a mast indicated generally at 28 comprising See a pair of outer channel beams 29 and 31 which are tele= scoped over a pair of inner channel beams 32 and 33. The lower ends of the outer channel beams 29 and 31 are pivotally mounted on the vehicle frame 12 adjacent the wheels 14 and 16. The top sections of the inner channel beams 32 and 33 are rigidly interconnected by a cross member 34.

The inner beams 32 and 33 are vertically moved relative to the outer beams 29 and 31 by an upright cylinder assembly 36 positioned between the opposite pairs of upright beams. The lower end of the cylinder assembly terminates between the drive wheels 14 and 16 and is connected to the truck frame 12 by a pivotal connection 37. A piston 38 projected from the upper end of the cylinder assembly 36 is connected to a transverse shaft 39 rotatably mounted in a pair of downwardly extended legs 41 secured to the bottom of the cross member 34.

The article support assembly 11 is positioned adjacent the front of the mast 28 and is supported in selected elevated positions by a pair of roller link lift chains 42 and 43. Each chain has one of its ends secured to the article support assembly 11 and from such ends the chains 42 and 43 are trained over sprockets 44 and 46 rotatably mounted on the transverse shaft 39 for connection of their opposite ends to a transverse plate 47 attached to the lower sections of the outer channel beams 29 and 31.

When the valve assembly 26 has been actuated to permit the flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the head or bottom end of the cylinder assembly 36, the piston 38 is moved in an upward direction carrying the inner beams 32 and 33 to an elevated position. The article support assembly 11 is simultaneously elevated by the action of the lift chains 42 and 43 which roll over their respective sprockets 44 and 46. The article support assembly 11 is maintained at the desired elevated position by trapping the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder assembly 36. When the fluid in the cylinder assembly 36' is released and allowed to return to a reservoir (not shown) the piston 38 will move in a downward direction under the weight of the inner beams 32 and 33 and the article support assembly 11. Movement-of the piston 38 in a downward direction telescopes the beams 32 and 33 within the outer beams 29 and 31 and simultaneously lowers the article assembly which includes a piston rod 49 pivotally connected to the center section of the transverse plate 47. The

"fluid motor 48 is selectively supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure at the opposite ends thereof providing the mast 28 with limited angular movement.

As shown in FIG. 2, the article support assembly 11 is positioned adjacent the forward side of the channel beams 29 and 31 and comprises a rectangular-shaped frame indicated generally at 51 carrying a pair of forks 52 and 53. The frame 51 has a top transverse member 54 the opposite ends of which are secured to downwardly projected side plates 56 and 57. A third plate 58 is secured to the center portion of the transverse member 54 and extends downwardly therefrom substantially parallel to the side plates 56 and 57. The lower sections of the plates 56, 57 and 58 are connected with a transverse plate 59 positioned in an upright plane. A second transverse plate 61 positioned in the upright plane of the transverse plate 59 below the transverse member 54, and extended substantially parallel thereto, is secured at its opposite ends to the side plates 56 and 57 and at its midsection to the third plate 58.

struction and are laterally movable relative to each other.

The following description, therefore, is limited to the fork 53 which comprises a forwardly extended straight finger 62 joined with an integral upright back 63. A transversely extended sleeve 64 is secured to the top end of the back 63.

The forks 52 and 53 are pivotally connected to the frame 51 by a transversely extended circular rod 66 that projects through aligned holes in the upper sections of the side plates 56 and 57 and the third plate 58. The rod 66 is maintained in assembled position in the plates by set screws 67 threaded into the side plates 56 and 57 in bearing engagement with the rod 66.

The sleeves 64 of the forks 52 and 53 are slidably mounted on the rod 66 to permit relative transverse adjustment of the forks 52 and 53 and to provide for the engagement of the rear sides of the backs 63 of the forks with the transverse plates 59 and 61.

The frame 51, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is operatively coupled to the lift chains 42 and 43 and the mast 28 by a carriage indicated generally at 68 comprising a pair of spaced upright supports 69 and 71 secured at their opposite end sections to an upper transverse member 72 and a lower transverse member 73. As shown in FIG. 5, the upright supports 69 and 71 extend between the inner channel beams 32 and 33 and rotatably carry vertically spaced rollers 74, 76 and 77, 78, respectively, which are positioned in the channels formed by the beams 32 and 33. The diameter of each roller is substantially equal to the width of its corresponding channel so as to roll on the flanges of such channel.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of rearwardly extended tabs 79 and 81 are secured to the back side of the center section of the lower transverse member 73 at positions between the upright supports 69 and 71. The tabs 79 and 81 are used to anchor the ends of the lift chains 42 and 43 to the carriage 68.

A pair of transversely positioned sleeves 82 and 83, secured to the top side of the upper transverse member 72, have axially aligned bores to receive a circular rod 84. The opposite ends of the rod 84 are positioned in aligned holes 86 and 87 in the upper sections of the side plates 56 and 57 of the frame 51. Set screws 88 are threaded into the sides of the plates 56 and 57 and engage the opposite ends of the rod 84 to maintain the rod 84 assembled with the frame 51.

The rod 84 functions to pivotally and slidably connect ,the confines of the frame 51 thereby minimizing the extension of the load center from the mast 28.

As shown in FIG. 5, the outer ends of the sleeves 82 and 83 are spaced from the side plates 56 and 57, respectively, so as to permit lateral movement of the frame 51 with respect to the carriage 68.

The frame 51 is driven in opposite lateral directions by a double acting fluid motor 89 shown in FIG. 3 as a piston and cylinder assembly connected to the carriage 68 and to the frame 51. The fluid motor 89 has a cylinder 91 pivotally connected at one end to an ear 92 secured to the bottom side of the transverse member 72 and extended downwardly therefrom. A reciprocating piston 93, slidably disposed in the cylinder 91, is secured to a piston rod 94 extended axially from the opposite 94 is attached to a U-shaped clevis 96 pivotally connected by a pin to a lateral arm 97 secured to the side plate 56 of the frame 51.

Fluid conducting hoses 98 and 99 (FIG. 2) are connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder 91 and to a junction block 101 (FIG. 3) secured to the end of the end of the cylinder 91. The outer end of the piston rod upper transverse member 72 adjacent the sleeve 82. As

shown in FIG. 3, the side plate 57 of the frame 51 has a recess 104 providing clearance for the junction block 101 when the fluid motor 89 has been expended. Hoses 102 and 103 connect the junction block 101 in a fluid relation with the valve assembly 26 which is operable to alternatively provide each hose 102 and 103 with hydraulic fluid under pressure and to trap the fluid in the motor 89.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower transverse plate 59 of the frame 51 is spaced from the lower transverse member 73 of the carriage 68 by a pair of rollers 106 positioned in slots 107 located in the opposite end sections of the transverse member 73. The rollers 106 are rotatably mounted on upright bolts 108 threaded into the transverse member 73 and projected through the slots 107.

In the operation of the fork lift truck 10 to transport an article to a selected location the truck is driven to a position adjacent the article and the carriage assembly 68 positioned in the lower portion of the mast 28. The fingers 62 of the forks 52 and 53 are inserted under the article. In this insertion of the forks 52 and 53 under the load the truck 10 is driven to a position in alignment with the article. If this position is at a variance with the position of the article the operator can shift the frame 51 and associated forks 52 and 53 to the right or left as required, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, by merely actuating the fluid motor 89. As shown in FIG. 6, when the fluid motor 89 is in an expanded position the piston rod 94 extends from the cylinder 91 forcing the frame 51 in a lateral direction. The frame 51 is secured to the circular rod 84 and when shifted in a lateral direction slides the rod through the sleeves 82 and 83 on the carriage 68. During this sliding movement the transverse plate 59 rolls on the rollers 106.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the fluid motor 89 is in a contracted position the piston rod 94 is telescoped within the cylinder 91 thereby positioning the frame 51 in an opposite lateral position. Thus, it is seen that the transverse position of the forks 52 and 53 may be varied by the operation of the double acting fluid motor 89. This operation is achieved by the actuation of the valve assembly 26 to alternately direct fluid under pressure to the opposite ends of the fluid motor 89.

With the application of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder assembly 36 the article support assembly 11 is moved to an elevated position on the mast 28 thereby raising the article carried by the forks 52 and 53.

A similar procedure may be used to remove the article from the forks 52 and 53. The truck 10 is driven to a position adjacent the desired location for placing the article. At this position the double acting fluid motor 89 may be actuated to laterally move the frame 51 to shift the article to the exact location required. When the hydraulic fluid in the upright cylinder assembly 36 is released and permitted to flow to a reservoir the article support assembly 11 moves in a downward direction so as to place the article on the floor or ground 13 or on a previously placed article. The truck 10 is then backed away from the placed article and is ready for another hauling operation.

In summary the article lift truck 10 is equipped with an elevatable article support assembly 11 comprising a frame 51 pivotally and slidably mounted on a carriage 68. A transverse rod 84 pivotally connects the carriage 68 with the fork carrying frame 51. The carriage 68 rides in an upright mast 28 and is moved to selected posi tions by an upright cylinder assembly '36. A double acting fluid motor 89 is operably connected to the frame 51 and the carriage 6'8 and is actuatable to laterally move or shift the frame in opposite directions with respect to the carriage 68 thereby changing the lateral positions of the forks 52 and 53. As a result of this shifting action of the frame 21 the handling of articles is facilitated by avoiding the necessity of accurately spotting the truck in a longitudinally centered relation with the article.

Although the invention has been described with resepect to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

An article support assembly for a truck having an extendable upright mast comprising:

(a) a carriage movable up and down on said mast, said carriage including a pair of vertically spaced fiat upright transverse members having the rear sides thereof adjacent the front side of the mast,

(b) a transversely shiftable upright frame positioned about said flat transverse members with the rear side thereof located rearwardly of the rear sides of said flat transverse members, said shiftable frame having an upright flat transverse plate means arranged forwardly of and in a back-to-back relation with the lower one of said flat transverse members,

(0) rollers on said lower fiat transverse member en- ,gageable with the rear side of said transverse plate means,

(d) a pair of transverse rod means secured to said shiftable frame adjacent the upper end and within the lateral confines thereof, With a first one of said rod means located downwardly and rearwardly from the second one of said rod means,

(e) means on the upper one of said transverse members mounted on the first rod means to support the shiftable frame [for transverse movement relative to said carriage and for up and down movement with said carriage,

(f) a pair of fork means, each of which has an upright section with a forwardly extended section at the lower end thereof, said upright sections pivoted at the upper ends thereof on said second rod means to provide for relative pivotal and transverse movement of said fork means, with the rearward pivotal movement of said fork means limited by the engagement of said upright sections with the front side of said transverse plate means when the upright sections are in pendant vertical positions, and

(g) motor means connected to said shiftable frame and carriage to move said shiftable frame in opposite transverse directions relative to said carriage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,621,822 12/1952 Melin 214730 2,820,562 1/195-8 Schen-kelberger 214730 2,958,436 1 1/ 1960 Skutle et a1. 214731 2,979,217 4/ 1961 Tomasovich.

3,010,595 11/196 1 Stone.

3,024,933 3/ 1962 Albert et al. 2.147 30 3,158,273 11/1964 Brown 214730 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,350,374 12/1963 France.

GERALD FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

HUGO O. SOHULZ, Examiner.

R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner. 

